Newslinks for Sunday 3rd April 2016

Government Steel Fightback 1) Public sector bodies will be told to buy British steel

“Public sector bodies will be told to buy British steel in an effort to prop up the ailing industry — as ministers prepare to plough hundreds of millions of pounds into saving Tata’s Port Talbot plant from closure. Writing in The Sunday Times, Sajid Javid, the business secretary, says that organisations such as the NHS, Network Rail and Highways England will have to consider the social and economic impact, as well as cost, when buying steel for big projects.” – Sunday Times (£)

“Unlike some previous business secretaries, I’m not a career politician. I spent most of my adult life in international business, working with large employers to help them secure investments and create jobs. I know how they work, I know what makes them tick, and I know how they like to do deals. I’m using every ounce of that experience to work with potential buyers and deliver a viable solution that creates a sustainable long-term future for the sector. There are no easy answers and the challenges we face are great, but I will continue to give everything I’ve got to save our steel.” – Sunday Times (£)

“The threatened closure of most, if not all, of the British steel industry is a predictable result of the decision by all the main political parties to give the utmost priority to reducing CO2 emissions.” – Dominic Lawson, Sunday Times (£)

The Government must do more to save the steel industry – Geoff Ho, Sunday Express

Prepare for NHS week in the EU referendum campaign

“As eurosceptics lined up to warn patients will suffer unless the UK votes to leave the European Union, medics and scientists hit back claiming Brexit would be “disastrous”. Michael Howard, the former Conservative leader, told the Sunday Telegraph that Jeremy Hunt’s claim that leaving would mean deep funding cuts for the NHS is a “myth”. While Priti Patel, the employment minister, warned the health service is “under threat” because of the UK’s membership. Lord Darzi, the former health minister, hit back, claiming leaving would have a negative impact on scientific research in the UK and diminish our status as a “leading light”.” – Sunday Telegraph

Conservative opposition to academisation steps up a gear. Brady to write to Morgan with concerns about the plan

“In a sign of the depth of Tory unrest, Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee, said the plans announced by George Osborne could lead to the creation of “new and distant bureaucracies” rather than delivering greater freedom and autonomy for schools. He also said they could have the unwelcome effect of removing parents from governing bodies and reducing accountability. Brady, who spoke out as new data suggested the reorganisation could cost more than £1.3bn, is writing to education secretary Nicky Morgan in the hope that the proposals spelled out in the recent education white paper can be changed.” – Observer

John Rentoul: Tough luck, Boris. How Prime Minister Mark Harper won a Tory landslide in the 2020 general election

“It would not take the time-traveller long to discover, by reading the digital newspapers, that Harper had been returned as Prime Minister with the largest Conservative majority since Margaret Thatcher’s in 1983. The blue-collar message from the state-school-educated Tory – the same message that had carried him to victory in the Tory leadership election against Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the previous year – had crushed a confused and divided Labour Party. As is traditional, Labour sentimentalists were full of admiration for the way the Labour leader, Heidi Alexander, had fought the hopeless fight.” – Independent on Sunday

Khan and Goldsmith scrap as as Labour prepares to launch its local elections campaign this week

“While Labour is downplaying its prospects in Scotland, Wales and English council elections, supporters of Jeremy Corbyn hope that a win for Khan will boost morale. On Tuesday, Labour will launch its local election campaign in Harlow, Essex, with a message that the Tories have allowed spending cuts to hit the most deprived areas hardest. Jon Trickett, shadow minister for local government, will say that between 2011-12 and 2019-20, nine of the 10 most deprived councils in England will have seen cuts higher than the national average, with seven having cuts more than three times the national average. “It is an abuse of power that there can be a system in place where this happens,” Trickett said.” – Observer

Emily Thornberry doesn’t know the code term for nuclear war – Mail on Sunday

Government overspends on aid by best part of £200 million…as it is claimed that Dfid can find only £50,000 for Liyba

“The Government has exceeded its target for spending on international aid by £172 million, according to official figures. Provisional figures, released by the Department for International Development (DfID), show aid spending in 2015 represented 0.71 per cent of the national income – putting it above the 0.7 per cent target. Britain’s total aid spending in 2015 was £12.2 billion, representing an overshoot of £172 million. David Cameron pledged to spend 0.7 per cent of the UK’s Gross National Income (GNI) on aid for developing countries. The excess spend represents 0.01 per cent of GNI.” – Independent on Sunday

Government under fire for spending £50,000 in aid for Libya – The Observer

Civil servants who spend most on aid are promoted fastest claim – Mail on Sunday

The Government stops funding War on Want, which is accused of sponsoring “events accused of promoting hatred and violence against Jews” – Sunday Telegraph

Will Trump’s troubles with women voters sink him in Wisconsin?

“In the crucial Midwestern state, which goes to the polls on Tuesday, female voters looked set to desert their party’s front-runner in droves. In the past fortnight Mr Trump has mocked the appearance of rival Ted Cruz’s wife Heidi; his campaign manager was charged with assaulting a female journalist; and the billionaire suggested women should be punished for having illicit abortions. Mr Trump’s comments that women having abortions should be treated as criminals if the procedure is banned caused widespread outrage last week across the political spectrum. He quickly reversed his position – by Friday he was insisting there was no need for tougher legislation – but Wisconsin will be the first test of how much damage has been done.” – Sunday Telegraph

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